Salva Health's screening device has the potential to bridge the breast cancer mortality gap

Upon learning about the breast cancer mortality gap, and that early detection makes a significant difference not only in survival rates but in the social and economic burden of the disease, Valentina Agudelo and Cristina García started working on the challenge of bringing affordable and accessible early detection to all women. Their work has undoubtedly paid off, as the startup continues to earn recognition. Most recently, Salva Health was declared the 2024 TechCrunch Disrupt Startup Battlefield winner.

Breast cancer patients diagnosed in an early stage have a 90% chance of survival, compared to 30% when the cancer is detected in its advanced stages. However, about 60% of the newly detected cases globally will be advanced-stage detections, with many cases occurring in the global South. Compared to the European Union's 90% benchmark for breast cancer early detection, the Latin American average ranges between 60 and 70%, with countries like Mexico and Colombia reporting a worryingly low 50% benchmark.

Some barriers to early breast cancer detection concern insufficient infrastructure: screening equipment is expensive and must be operated by trained specialists. Others have to do with the physical and emotional discomfort experienced by women, which if unresolved, leads women to avoid the testing process altogether. Yet others are physical limitations: breast cancer diagnostics require radiation, making some women ineligible for traditional screening. What Salva Health got right was that most of these could be eliminated by bringing devices to women, rather than expecting them to singlehandedly overcome any obstacle keeping them from a timely diagnosis.

Julieta, Salva Health's portable screening device, measures tissue density using electrodes and leverages AI to detect cases of possible abnormalities or malignant tissue. Julieta does not require an internet connection and can deliver fast results to any tablet, smartphone, or computer. Salva Health offers the device as a hard-ware-as-a-service, where healthcare institutions only pay for the screening tests performed by the device. In addition to eliminating the upfront costs of acquiring screening equipment, the hardware-as-a-service model enables the startup to retain data and privacy controls and centralize screening to its proprietary cloud.

Although Julieta is not a replacement for a mammogram or other standard detection tests, deploying the device can widen access to an initial form of testing—especially by reaching populations that would otherwise have no access to any other screening, optimize resources, and in some cases, save lives by encouraging women with detected abnormalities to seek further medical attention. Salva Health has conducted clinical trials for the device and awaits upcoming clearance by INVIMA, Colombia's pharmaceuticals and food authority.

The startup says it plans to submit a request to the FDA so it recognizes the INVIMA approval. Although there is no shortage of infrastructure or healthcare professionals in the US, Salva Health thinks insurance companies can reduce costs by screening eligible patients with Julieta. Once the device secures FDA approval, Salva Health plans to expand to other emerging markets in Africa and India. Moreover, the startup is researching early-detection solutions for other chronic conditions, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.